Notes: Made from 100% agave and infused with real natural essences as opposed to macerated which would mean they put the ingredients directly in the tequila and extracted the flavors that way). This particular example is a complex blend of tequila, mango, pineapple, guanabana and Jalapeño. This is one of three products put out by this company, the others being Tanteo Jalapeño and Tanteo Chocolate.

Appearance: Clear, slightly yellow / tan color, with no sediment. On swirling, it leaves a clear coat on the inside of the glass then legs developing turning into droplets.

First Impression: Rather unfortunate.Ther combination of the spice and alkali of the Jalapeño coupled with the fruit (I expect form the guanabana) reminds us forcefully of a pile of ripe garbage or Durian fruit.

Taste: Good quality tequila taste rapidly overwhelmed by a sickly sweet taste that reminds one of cheap canned oriental juice drinks spiked with pepper. Very sweet finish intermixed with pepper and a lingering tingling / numbness with some smoke notes and off putting sticky sweetness.

Drinks: Couldn’t bring ourselves to drink anymore of it or face making a cocktail out of it.

Bottle: Clear recycled but high quality glass. A very eye-pleasing shape to it -Rectangular bottom with a heavy decanter base swelling upwards to a rounded shoulder with a medallion wax seal at shoulder with a easy to grip neck with two small glass bands between which the hang tag is tied. Bottom of bottle has a capital “T” pressed into bottom. Labeling is equally well done – Very attractive raised printing with multiple colors and borders on good quality paper, silkscreened graphics on front and back directly on glass. Small clear plastic label also on back. Package is finished with a paper seal (in this case copper orange with the word tropical on it), wooden topped real cork closure, and a signed and numbered seal on the hang tag giving bottle # and bottling date. Overall one of the nicest bottles I have seen in a while in regards to eye appeal.

Final Thoughts: However good the essences may have been singly, reminds us of some of the other flavor nightmares that were spawned in the past. While it certainly uses better ingredients the resulting mixture/concoction the final result is making us physically nauseous. This may be a new standard – and not in a good way.

Web site: http://www.tanteotequila.com 

Fast loading, simple navigation, easy-to-read if rather terse not to say short on information. Recipe helps you highlight the best in this tequila

N.B. : The ratings are for flavored tequilas- not the broader tequila category